Felix Fields's icy voice stopped Josie Quinn in her tracks.
She truly wanted to leave, but this was Felix Fields's territory. What's more, her powers were depleted—where could she possibly escape to?
At this thought, an ingratiating smile crept onto her face. She turned to him. "Is there something you need?"
"My woman?"
His voice was low and hoarse, like sandpaper scraping across a coarse rock, making it impossible to discern any clear emotion.
Jane Alden clutched the faded corner of her clothes, mustered her courage, and shuffled half a step forward. "Felix, she was just trying to help me..."
Felix Fields's gaze shifted to her. "Jane, I need to speak with her alone. You should go back first."
Jane Alden glanced cautiously at Josie Quinn, her eyes full of apology, then slowly walked away, looking back every few steps.
Josie Quinn watched her receding back. 'This girl actually has a conscience,' she thought. 'It wasn't a total waste helping her out, even if it meant risking Joanna Cross's wrath.'
'Though, that assistance also served my own purposes.'
Even when she reached the corner, Jane Alden couldn't help but look back one last time.
Josie Quinn knew there was no getting out of this, so she simply put on a smile that was both innocent and cunning.
"Joanna Cross was about to bully her, so I stepped in on impulse. I only dropped your name to protect your people. You don't mind, do you?"
"I do mind." Felix Fields's reply was curt and decisive.
This took Josie Quinn by surprise. She had only wanted to lie low for a couple of days and never expected to have another run-in with this superpower user, so she naturally hadn't considered the consequences.
Her mind immediately started racing, searching for some bargaining chip she could use to gain his forgiveness and get through the next few days safely.
But Felix Fields beat her to the punch. "I can overlook the fact that you made things up about me, but I need you to do something for me."
'So that's the catch!'
The corner of Josie Quinn's lips curved up slightly. "Name it. As long as I can do it."
"What's your superpower?"
"That's private," Josie Quinn refused to say.
A glint appeared in Felix Fields's eyes. "You appeared in my room so suddenly. You should be able to go to other places too, right?"
"You could say that."
Josie Quinn couldn't deny that. After all, that was exactly how she had first appeared before him.
Felix Fields studied her face.
She looked very young, but her eyes held a cunning that betrayed her age.
He had seen countless beauties while on missions abroad, but he had to admit the girl before him possessed a delicate beauty blessed by the heavens.
"You don't have to tell me what your power is, but in a few days, I need you to go to a place with a lot of zombies. Can you do that?"
"Is this place dangerous?" Josie Quinn raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Felix Fields admitted freely. "There are mutated zombies there, number unknown. I need your help to confirm how many. Can your power handle that?"
"It seems I'm getting a raw deal here. I just used your name to lay low for two days, and you want me to risk my life in return."
Felix Fields was just using the recent incident as a pretext to get her help. If they were to be precise about it, he was indeed the one getting the better end of the deal.
"You can name your terms."
"Really?"
"Mm," Felix Fields replied.
Josie Quinn's eyes darted about. 'If the risk is too great, there's no need for me to get involved.'
"This is dangerous. I need to think it over. Give me a few days to consider. Once I've made up my mind, I'll give you my terms."
"Fine."
Her power was recovering very slowly, but a few days would be enough.
'When the time comes, I'll just play it by ear. If it's easy, I'll lend a hand. If not, I'll just make a run for it.'
* * *
SLAM!
Joanna Cross kicked the door open in a rage.
A crystal chandelier poured lavish light onto a leather sofa, illuminating three disheveled figures—a man and two women.
The shelter was equipped with solar panels, providing an ample supply of electricity.
The coffee table was also covered with expensive liquor and cigarettes, a picture of extravagance.
Seeing his sister burst in, Marco Cross pushed the scantily clad beauty off his lap. He took a drag from the cigar between his fingers and blew out a smoke ring.
Burning with fury, Joanna Cross plopped down on the sofa and roared at the two beauties next to Marco Cross, "Get out! All of you!"
The two beauties flinched in fear. Marco Cross patted their bare backs. "Joanna's in a bad mood. You two should leave for now."
As the beauties retreated, pulling their clothes into place, Joanna Cross was already eager to complain. "Brother, Felix Fields has a woman!"
Marco Cross took a long drag of his cigar, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"That shriveled-up little thing, Jane Alden? Felix could be interested in her?"
"Not Jane Alden!" Joanna Cross stomped her foot in frustration. "It's someone who just appeared out of nowhere, and she's ten times more beautiful than any of these girls you have here!"
Marco Cross immediately sat up straight. "More beautiful than them? And she's in our camp?"
Joanna Cross opened a drink from the table and chugged it down. "Felix must have brought her back himself. I've never seen her before."
Marco Cross's interest was instantly piqued.
For the past three months, he had sent countless beauties to win over Felix Fields, but the man had remained completely indifferent. It had even made him suspect Felix preferred men.
But the handsome young men he sent were also turned away at the door.
Marco Cross knew his own abilities were limited; he needed to win over powerful superpower users to expand his influence.
He mulled it over for a moment, then actually smiled. "It's a good thing he brought a woman back. No man can resist something new and fresh. If you're more forward, he won't refuse you."
The mere mention of it made Joanna Cross's face darken with anger.
"I threw myself at him today, and he threw me out!"
Marco Cross was unconcerned. "Don't worry. In a few days, I'll have Jack Jennings make a move. Sooner or later, Felix will be my brother-in-law."
'Felix Fields is out all day, which makes me uneasy.'
'I, who once couldn't even get a single ordinary woman, can now pick and choose from the most stunning beauties.'
'For just a full meal, they'll use every trick in the book to please me.'
'The feeling is intoxicating. I want to continue expanding my power, to control the distribution of resources in this apocalypse.'
'That's why I must win over Felix Fields.'
'Although I hold two of his weaknesses, only by making him my brother-in-law, binding him with the dual ties of family and interest, can I truly keep this sharp blade by my side.'
* * *
Lucas Lockwood searched all night but found no trace of Josie Quinn. He refused to imagine the worst.
'Maybe she's just trapped somewhere, or maybe she changed her mind at the last minute and decided not to come with us.'
"Lucas, we've already passed through the city. Why don't we just leave?"
Lucas Lockwood was silent for a long time before finally deciding to follow his heart.
Without Josie Quinn's help along the way, there was no way their group could have crossed this zombie-infested city completely unscathed.
"I can't continue on with you. Once you leave the city, the zombies are sparse. With the few superpower users here to protect you, you'll definitely make it to the safe zone."
"What?"
"You're not coming with us, Lucas?" Anya Kane asked anxiously.
"That's right. I have some personal business to take care of. You all take care."
For the past three months of the apocalypse, Lucas Lockwood had been the group's backbone.
His sudden decision to leave threw everyone into a panic.
"Lucas, is there something we can't solve together? Without you leading us, I'm afraid we won't make it to the safe zone."
Lucas Lockwood stood up. "It's something I have to handle alone. You all go on ahead. If I resolve it quickly, I might be able to catch up."
With that, everyone understood his decision was final.
Lucas Lockwood's gaze swept over every face. "Take care, everyone!"
After speaking, he shouldered his pack and resolutely walked back toward the city center...